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[Emperor Sagara performs austerities and a sacrifice for progeny.]

tāṅ kathāṅ kauśikō rāmē nivēdya kuśikātmaja:.

punarēvāparaṅ vākyaṅ kākutstha midamabravīt৷৷1.38.1৷৷


kuśikātmaja: the offspring of Kausika, kauśika: Visvamitra, tāṅ kathām that story, rāmē to Rama, nivēdya having related, punarēva again, idam this, (aparaṅ) vākyam words, kākutstham addressing Rama, abravīt had spoken.

Viswamitra, an offspring of Kusika having related the story (of Karthikeya) to the son of the Kakusthas (Rama) said again.
ayōdhyādhipati śśūra: pūrvamāsīnnarādhipa:.

sagarō nāma dharmātmā prajākāmassa cāpraja:৷৷1.38.2৷৷


pūrvam in ancient times, ayōdhyādhipati: ruler of Ayodhya, śūra: brave, dharmātmā righteous one, sagarō nāma named Sagara, narādhipa: āsīt was king, sa: he, apraja: was childless, prajākāma: desiring children,

"In olden days there lived a brave and righteous king named Sagara who was ruler of Ayodhya. He was childless and desired to have children,
vaidarbhaduhitā rāma kēśinī nāma nāmata:.

jyēṣṭhā sagarapatnī sā dharmiṣṭhā satyavādinī৷৷1.38.3৷৷


rāma O! Rama, vaidarbhaduhitā daughter of king of Vidarbha, nāmata: by name, kēśinī nāma well-known as Kesini, jyēṣṭhā eldest, sagarapatnī wife of Sagara, sā she, dharmiṣṭhā righteous, satyavādinī truthful.

O Rama! the daughter of the king of Vidarbha by name Kesini was Sagara's eldest wife who was righteous and truthful.
ariṣṭanēmērduhitā rūpēṇāpratimā bhuvi.

dvitīyā sagarasyāsītpatnī sumatisaṅjñitā ৷৷1.38.4৷৷


ariṣṭanēmē: Arishtanemi's, duhitā daughter, rūpēṇa in charm, bhuvi on this earth, apratimā unsurpassed, sumatisaṅjñitā named Sumati, sagarasya Sagara's, dvitīyā second, patnī āsīt was his wife.

The daughter of Arishtanemi named Sumati was the second wife of Sagara and none surpassed her in charm on earth.
tābhyāṅ saha mahārāja: patnībhyāṅ taptavāṅstapa:.

himavantaṅ samāsādya bhṛguprasravaṇē girau৷৷1.38.5৷৷


tadā then, mahārājaḥ king Sagara, tābhyām patnībhyām with those wives, saha accompanied by, himavantam Himavat mountain, samāsādya having reached, bhṛguprasravaṇē on a peak called Bhriguprasravana, girau mountain, tapa: taptavān engaged in austerities.

The king (Sagara) accompanied by his wives reached Himavat mountain and engaged himself in severe austerities on a peak called Bhriguprasravana.
atha varṣaśatē pūrṇē tapasā.rādhitō muni:.

sagarāya varaṅ prādādbhṛgussatyavatāṅ vara:৷৷1.38.6৷৷


atha then, varṣaśatē when hundred years, pūrṇē had completed, tapasā by austerites, ārādhita: pleased, satyavatāṅ vara: best among truthful persons, bhṛgu: muni: the ascestic Bhrugu, sagarāya for Sagara, varam boon, prādāt granted.

When Sagara completed a hundred years in austerities, highly pleased by his performance, ascetic Bhrugu, the best among the truthful granted him a boon.
apatyalābhassumahān bhaviṣyati tavānagha!.

kīrtiṅ cāpratimāṅ lōkē prāpsyasē puruṣarṣabha!৷৷1.38.7৷৷


anagha O! Blemishless one, tava to you, sumahān very great, apatyalābha: gain of progeny, bhaviṣyati will take place, puruṣarṣabha O! Best among men, lōkē in this world, apratimām unparalleled, kīrtiṅ ca fame, prāpsyasē you will acquire.

O sinless one, you will get a very great progeny, O best among men! you will acquire unparalleled fame in this world.
ēkā janayitā tāta! putraṅ vaṅśakaraṅ tava.

ṣaṣṭhiṅ putrasahasrāṇi aparā janayiṣyati৷৷1.38.8৷৷


tāta O! Child, ēkā one wife, tava your, vaṅśakaram perpetuating race, putram one son, janayitā will beget, aparā the other wife, ṣaṣṭhiṅ sixty, putrasahasrāṇi thousands of sons, janayiṣyati will beget.

O child, one wife will beget a son who will perpetuate your race and the other, sixty thousand sons, said Bhrugu.
bhāṣamāṇaṅ mahātmānaṅ rājaputryau prasādya tam.

ūcatu: paramaprītē kṛtāñjalipuṭē tadā৷৷1.38.9৷৷


tadā after that, paramaprītē exceedingly delighted, rājaputryau daughters of kings, kṛtāñjalipuṭē folding hands in supplication, bhāṣamāṇam speaking in this way, mahātmānam magnanimous, prasādya propitiating, tam addresseing him, ūcatu: said.

Thereafter, both the daughters of the king were exceedingly delighted. Having propitiated that magnanimous asectic both of them with folded hands in supplication, said:
ēka: kasyāssutō brahman kā bahūn janayiṣyati.

śrōtumicchāvahē brahman! satyamastu vacastava৷৷1.38.10৷৷


brahman O! Knower of Brahman, kasyā: which of us, ēka: one, suta: son will beget, kā who is she, bahūn many sons, janayiṣyati will beget, brahman O! Brahmarshi, śrōtum to listen, icchāvahē both of us are interested in knowing, tava your, vaca: words, satyam astu let this be true.

O knower of Brahman! which of us will beget one, and who many sons? O Brahmarshi! we wish to hear. Let your words come true".
tayōstadvacanaṅ śrutvā bhṛgu: paramadhārmika:.

uvāca paramāṅ vāṇīṅ svacchandō.tra vidhīyatām৷৷1.38.11৷৷


paramadhārmika: highly virtuous, bhṛgu: Bhrugu, tayō: their, tat vacanam those words, śrutvā having heard, paramām excellent, vāṇīm statement, uvāca made, atra in this matter, svacchanda: your free will, vidhīyatām be exercised.

Hearing their words, highly virtuous Bhrugu made an excellent statement saying, 'In this matter, you may exercise your free will'.
ēkō vaṅśakarō vā.stu bahavō vā mahābalā:.

kīrtimantō mahōtsāhā: kā vā kaṅ varamicchati৷৷1.38.12৷৷


vaṅśakara: perpetuating the race, ēka: one, astu vā shall beget, mahābalā: possessed of mighty strength, kīrtimanta: endowed with fame, mahōtsāhā: great perseverance, bahavō vā many, kā vā who among you, kaṅ varam which boon, icchati is desiring?

'What would you wish? One son who perpetuates the race or many possessed of mighty strength endowed with fame and perseverance?' (asked Bhrugu).
munēstu vacanaṅ śrutvā kēśinī raghunandana.

putraṅ vaṅśakaraṅ rāma jagrāha nṛpasannidhau৷৷1.38.13৷৷


raghunandana O! One causing delight to the descendents of Raghu, rāma Rama !, munē: ascetic's, vacanam words, śrutvā having heard, kēśinī Kesini, vaṅśakaram perpetuating the race, putram son, nṛpasannidhau in the presence of king, jagrāha accepted.

"O Rama, delight of the descendants of Raghus, on hearing the words of the ascetic in the presence of king Sagara, Kesini chose the boon to have a son who perpetuates the race.
ṣaṣṭhiṅ putrasahasrāṇi suparṇabhaginī tadā.

mahōtsāhān kīrtimatō jagrāha sumati: sutān৷৷1.38.14৷৷


tadā then, suparṇabhaginī sister of (Garuda) Suparna, sumati: Sumati, mahōtsāhān possessing great perseverance, kīrtimata: endowed with fame, ṣaṣṭhim sixty, putrasahasrāṇi thosands of sons, sutān as her sons, jagrāha accepted.

Then, Sumati (the other wife) sister of Suparna (Garuda) obtained the boon of sixty thousand sons endowed with fame and great perseverance.
pradakṣiṇamṛṣiṅ kṛtvā śirasā.bhipraṇamya ca.

jagāma svapuraṅ rājā sabhāryō raghunandana! ৷৷1.38.15৷৷


raghunandana! O! Rama, sabhārya: along with wives, rājā king, ṛṣim saint Bhrigu, pradakṣiṇaṅ kṛtvā having circumambulated, śirasā bowing down the head, abhipraṇamya saluting with folded hands, svapuram his own capital, jagāma went.

O son of the Raghus! the king along with his wives, having circumambulated saint Bhrugu, bowed his head in reverence, saluted him with folded hands and returned to his capital.
atha kālē gatē tasmin jyēṣṭhā putraṅ vyajāyata.

asamañja iti khyātaṅ kēśinī sagarātmajam৷৷1.38.16৷৷


atha thereafter, tasmin kālē gatē after lapse of some time, jyēṣṭhā eldest wife, kēśinī Kesini, sagarātmajam son of Sagara, asamañja iti by name Asamanjasa, khyātam well known, putram son, vyajāyata gave birth.

After lapse of some time, the eldest wife Kesini gave birth to a son well-known by name Asamanjasa.
sumatistu naravyāghra garbhatumbaṅ vyajāyata.

ṣaṣṭhi: putrasahasrāṇi tumbabhēdādvini:sṛtā:৷৷1.38.17৷৷


naravyāghra O! Best among men, sumatistu Sumati, garbhatumbam gourd like foetus, vyajāyata gave birth, tumbabhēdāt when that guard like foetus was burst open, ṣaṣṭhi: sixty, putrasahasrāṇi thousands of sons, vinissṛtā: emerged.

O best among men, Sumati gave birth to a gourd-like foetus and when it burst open, sixty thousand sons emerged.
ghṛtapūrṇēṣu kumbhēṣu dhātryastān samavardhayan.

kālēna mahatā sarvē yauvanaṅ pratipēdirē৷৷1.38.18৷৷


dhātrya: nurses, tān them, ghṛtapūrṇēṣu filled with clarified butter, kumbhēṣu in pots, samavardhayan fostered them, sarvē all of them, mahatā kālēna after a long time, yauvanam state of adolescence, pratipēdirē attained.

Nurses placed all of them in pots filled with clarified butter and fostered them. They attained adolescence after a long time.
atha dīrghēṇa kālēna rūpayauvanaśālina:.

ṣaṣṭi: putrasahasrāṇi sagarasyābhavaṅstadā৷৷1.38.19৷৷


atha then, dīrghēṇa kālēna after a lapse of long time, sagarasya Sagara's, ṣaṣṭhi: putrasahasrāṇi sixty thousand sons, tadā then, rūpayauvanaśālina: abhavan became resplendent with beauty and manhood.

Then, after a long time Sagara's sixty thousand sons attained beauty and youth.
sa ca jyēṣṭhō naraśrēṣṭha! sagarasyātmasambhava:.

bālān gṛhītvā tu jalē sarayvā raghunandana!৷৷1.38.20৷৷

prakṣipya prahasannityaṅ majjatastān samīkṣya vai.


naraśrēṣṭha O! Best among men, raghunandana O! Rama, jyēṣṭha: eldest son, sa: sagarasya ātmasambhava: that Sagara's son Asamanjasa, nityam every day, bālān children, gṛhītvā seizing hold of, sarayvā: river Sarayu's, jalē waters, prakṣipya throwing them, nimajjata: while they were drowning, tān them, samīkṣya beholding, prahasan while laughing (rejoiced).

O best among men, delight of the Raghus (in the mean time) sagara's eldest son Asamanjasa, used to seize hold of children and throw them into the waters of river Sarayu. And while they were drowning, he was laughing.
ēvaṅ pāpasamācārassajjanapratibādhaka:৷৷1.38.21৷৷

paurāṇāmahitē yukta: putrō nirvāsita: purāt.


ēvam In this manner, pāpasamācāra: evil-inclined, sajjanapratibādhaka: tormenting the good citizens, paurāṇām for citizens, ahitē inimical acts, yuktaḥ (rata:) delighted, putra: son, purāt from capital, nirvāsita: was banished.

Thus this son inclined towards evil and formenting the good citizens was banished (of the king) from the capital for his indulgence in malevolent acts.
tasya putrōṅ.śumānnāma asamañjasya vīryavān৷৷1.38.22৷৷

sammata ssarvalōkasya sarvasyāpi priyaṅvada:.


tasya asamañjasya for that Asamanjasa, putra: son, vīryavān valiant, aṅśumān nāma named Anshuman, sarvalōkasya for the entire world, sammata: beloved, sarvasyāpi for every one also, priyaṅvada: courteous in speech.

Asamanjasa's son was Anshuman. He was valiant, beloved and courteous to every one in the world.
tata: kālēna mahatā matissamabhijāyata৷৷1.38.23৷৷

sagarasya naraśrēṣṭha yajēyamiti niścitā.


naraśrēṣṭha O! Best among men, tata: afterwards, mahatā kālēna after a long time, sagarasya Sagara's, yajēyam I shall perform sacrifice, iti thus, niścitā firm, mati: decision, samabhijāyata arose (in him).

O best among men! after a long time, a thought came to the mind of Sagara to definitely perform a sacrifice.
sa kṛtvā niścayaṅ rāma sōpādhyāyagaṇastadā৷৷1.38.24৷৷

yajñakarmaṇi vēdajñō yaṣṭuṅ samupacakramē.


rāma O! Rama, tadā then, vēdajña: well-versed in vedas, sa: he, sōpādhyāyagaṇa: in the company of high priests, yajñakarmaṇi initiatory rites relating to sacrifice, niścayam determination, kṛtvā having made, yaṣṭum to perform sacrifice, samupacakramē commenced.

O Rama! having determined to perform a sacrifice, he (Sagara) versed in the Vedas, started the initiatory rites for the sacrifice in the company of high priests".
ityārṣē śrīmadrāmāyaṇē vālmīkīya ādikāvyē bālakāṇḍē aṣṭātriṅśassarga: 2
Thus ends the thirtyeighth sarga of Balakanda of the holy Ramayana the first epic composed by sage Valmiki.